Apparatus for the correction of displaced spondyls



Sept. 26, 1961 KASUKE SUGIMOTO 3,001,523

APPARATUS FOR THE CORRECTION OF DISPLACED SPONDYLS Filed May 7, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 //VV/VTOR KA SUKE 506 "v0 r0 Sept. 26, 1961 KASUKE SUGIMOTO APPARATUS FOR THE CORRECTION OF DISPLACED SPONDYLS Filed May 7. 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fij IN VEN TOR. KAJVKE Jae/"0T ATTORNEY Sept. 26, 1961 KASUKE SUGIMOTO 3,0 1, 3

APPARATUS FOR THE CORRECTION OF DISPLACED SPONDYLS Filed May 7, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jw\ x21 35 25- IN VEN TOR.

AASUKE SUG/MOFO TTOE/VEY Sept. 26:, 1961 KASUKE SUGIMOTO 3,001,523

APPARATUS FOR THE CORRECTION OF DISPLACED SPONDYLS Filed May 7. 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ym Z Ft L9 IN VEN TOR.. A A s 0 K6 jua/m'aro A TTQEA/E Y 1 3,001,523 APPARATUS FOR THE CORRECTION O I DISPLACED SPONDYLS M Kasuke Sugimoto, 79 9schome, Mahuchi-machi, .Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka-ken, Japan 3 3 Filed May 7, 1953, Ser. No. 733,588

. 2 Claims. (Cl. 128-49) invention relates to a therapeutic machine and ljel atm more particularly to an improved apparatus for correcting displaced spondyls or vertebrae of spinal column.

j When a so-cailed secondary luxation, or dislocation, of the spinal column, such as slipping, inclination or twisting ofv a spondyl, occurs various physical disorders are caused. These secondary luxations may be corrected by the repeated extensions and contractions of the spondyls of the spinal column.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for correcting displaced spondyls of the spinal column without causing irritation of the nerves of the spinal cord or of the muscles adjacent thereto.

Another object of this invention is the provision of aii apparatus for correcting displaced spondyls which may be operated by the patient himself while in a supine position.

'A further object of this'in'vention is the provision of an apparatus 'for correcting displaced spondyls which may be adjusted by the patient himself.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following detailed description and claims.

In accordance with this invention there is provided an apparatus comprising a pair of semicylindrical members, preferably made of rubber, which are adapted to apply frictional rolling contact on the spondyls and to the back of the patient in the vicinity of the spondyls whereby there are imparted to said spondyls eifective extending and contracting actions in a direction longitudinally of the spinal column.

Referring now to the drawings wherein preferred embodiments of this invention are shown:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of this invention as mounted for use,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus as mounted for use,

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus supported on the friction members,

FIG. 4 is a partly sectional view looking from left to right in FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 3,

FIG. 6 is a view along the lines of FIG. 3 but showing a modified form of friction members and means for adjusting the apparatus for use,

FIG. 7 is a detail view of the mechanism employed for adjustment purposes,

FIG. 8 is a perspective detail view of an adjusting element shown in FIG. 7, and

FIG. 9 is a view showing the :fiict'ion elements applied to the back of a patient, the hack being shown in crosssection.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed descrip tion of this invention, reference numeral 33 indicates the base of the apparatus, which base is adapted to rest .on a table or other support on which the patient is adapted to lie for treatment. Projecting from one end of the ibase 33 is a pin 32 on which is journaled a frame 29.

Integral with frame 29 is a bracket 27, to which motor '1 is fixed as by bolts 28, and a gear box 9. The motor '11 is provided with a shaft 6 which extends into gear box 9 and has on its free end with said gear box a pinion States In e fies gear 2. Meshing with and drivenby pinion gear 2 is a gear wheel 3 carried by a shaft 7, journaled in suitable hearings in frame 29. "The shaft 7 also has mounted thereon a pinion gear 4 which meshes with a gear wheel 5 carried by a shaft 8 journaled in suitable bearings in frame 29. I

The shaft 8 projects from both sides of the gear box 9 and to these projections are fixed small arms 10 and 11. The crank angle of each of arms 10 and 1115 established so that the hereinaftendescribed supports 19 and 20 oscillate in opposite directions. Eccentrically mounted on said arms 10 and 11 are stub shafts 12 and 13 respectively. Rotatably mounted on said stub shafts 12 and 13 are connecting rods 14 and 15 respectively, which have on their free ends pins 30 and 31 respectively to which are fixed adjusting pins 16 and 17. Adjustably mounted on adjusting pins 16 and 17 are supports 19 and 20 respectively. These supports have arcuate surfaces 21 and also have openings therein for the reception of pins 16 and 17. The supports are held in adjusted position on pins 16 and 17 by set screws '18. The frame 29 also has integral therewith brackets 24 and 25 in which are mounted, parallel to each other spindles 26, 26 on which are carried for oscillating movement relative thereto the supports 19 and 20. To the arcuate surfaces 21 of supports 19 and 20 are attached semicylindrical friction members or rollers 22 and 23 which may be made of rubber or other suitable material and which are of such length as to extend for an appreciable distance beyond the ends of the supports 19 and 20..

As is shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 the friction members 23 may be provided with arcuate projections 38, 38 which may be of the same material as the friction members. However, they may be made of different material. For example, the arcuate projections may be made of harder rubber than the rubber of the friction members. The ends of the projections 38, 38 may be fixed to the arms of bifurcated plates 39, 39. The closed end of the bifurcated plates is provided with a pair of bosses 40 spaced from each other which are bored to receive spindles 26, 26 on which the plates 39, 39 are slidably and rotatably mounted. Between the bosses 40, 40 on each of the plates is a collar or ring 41 threaded on the spindle 26 and having fixed thereto a rod 42. As particularly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the rods 42, 42 are attached to a lever '43 which is pivotally mounted on ratchet plate 45 by pin 46. The ratchet plate 45 is fixed to a bracket 44 which is in turn fixed to the motor bracket 27 by bolt 28.

The table or support for the apparatus may be fiat as shown at 34 in FIGS. 1 and 2, and may also be provided with an inclined support 35 to place the patient in proper position for treatment. A pillow 37 may also be provided for the comfort of the patient.

The operation of the apparatus of the invention will be readily understood. The patient first positions himself or is positioned on the table by lying on the inclined support with his head on pillow 37 and with his back pressed against friction members 22, 23 so that the part of a secondary luxation of the spinalcolumn comes between the said friction members. The angle of inclination of support 35 and the angle at which the apparatus is mounted are such that the patient readily moves into proper position against the friction members 22, 23 with out any spinal effort on the part of the patient being necessary. Now when the motor is energized by suitable means, not shown, the oscillating supports 19 and 20, carrying the friction members, go into action thus causing said friction members to reciprocate vis-a-vis in op posite directions with a rolling motion in a plurality of directions. Thus, the surfaces of friction members 22, 23 move longitudinally of the spinal column while pressing against the same with an outward motion relative P n ed .SsPF' 6,. 2

' to the spinal column and then an inward motion relative to the spinal column. At the outward motion of friction members 22, 23, the spondyls are extending, while at the inward motion thereofthe ligaments and muscles adjacent to the spondyls are caused to contract forcing the spondyls to return to their normal position. By repeating these actions the secondary luxation of the spinal column is corrected.

The patient, by employing the lever 43 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, may adjust the position of the arcuate projections relative to the friction rollers 22, 23 so that they may straddle the spinal column as desired. As will be seen from FIG. 9, these projections 38, 33 press muscles 49 on the transverse processes 48 of the vertebrae of the spinal "column putting the thorn-shaped or spinescent projection of the vertebra between them, thus accelerating the recovery of the maladjustment. By adjusting the position of supports 19 and 20 along the length of adjusting pins 16 and 17, the Oscillating angle or amplitude of friction members 22, 23 may be altered and the vertebrae extension force changed to suit the patient. While normally it is desired to oscillate both friction members 22, 23, it will be appreciated that it is possible in the apparatus above described to have one friction member fixed and the other oscillatable, Furthermore, the said apparatus may be mounted below the surface of a table whereby the patient may lie flat on his back on the table with the friction members extending inpward through a hole in the table. 1 It is to be understood that the invention is capable of various uses and that changes andadaptions may be gadzrzherein as will be apparent tof'ja"person skilled in What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for the correction of displaced spo'ndyls of a spinal column comprising a frame, a bracket integral with said frame, a motor mounted on said bracket, a shaft journalled in said frame, a gear train for connecting said motor and said shaft, an arm attached to each end of said shaft, a connecting rod attached to each arm, an adjusting pin carried by the free end of each connecting rod, a support mounted on each adjusting pin, a spindle on which each of said supports is pivotally attached, brackets on said frame in which said spindles are mounted, s'emicylindrical friction members on said supports, the construction and arrangement being such that the friction members reciprocate in a direction opposite to each other with a rolling motion. 1'

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the "friction members carry arcuate projections, bifurcated plates on which said arcuate projections are secured, and means, including a lever and a ratchet operatively connectedto said lever, linked to said bifurcated plates wherebythe position of the arcuate projections are adjustable by operation of said lever.

-References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Douglas Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3,,O0l 523 September 26 1961 Kasuke Sugimoto It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the heading to the printed specification between lines 6 and 7 insert the following: Claims priority application Japan Mar. S 1958 Signed and sealed this 10th day of April 19,62

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

